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I think it's important to make children spiritually aware.Sunstone said:Is it crucial to raise children in a religion? If so, what are the benefits to the child of being raised in a religion? What, if any, are the disadvantages?
I don't think there is a set answer to that; one poster on this thread has fond memories of going to church with his father, whilst in another thread, one poster told us how being brought up in an 'indoctrination scenario' had made him/her suddenly wake up one day, and say, why am I following all this............Sunstone said:Is it crucial to raise children in a religion? If so, what are the benefits to the child of being raised in a religion? What, if any, are the disadvantages?
You know what I think.Sunstone said:Is it crucial to raise children in a religion? If so, what are the benefits to the child of being raised in a religion? What, if any, are the disadvantages?
This is how bringing your child up without indoctrination is superior in my mind.Michel said:Jamaesi mentioned the positive element of bringing children up outside of a religious surrounding - that the child could thoroughly understand the benefits of forging a moral code for the sake of it's own merit, rather than by religious 'rote'.
Æsahættr said:One disadvantage- it can be a lot of effort later on in life to come to terms with the idea of no life after death. That certainly applies to me, as someone who was religious younger due to going to a religious school, even though I had no religious upbringing at home. I am not going to try and claim that that applies to everyone, or even many people, I don't know if it does. However, that is a disadvantage that can exist.
Maybe it's me being silly, but I don't understand the problem with that though; in many ways, I would be just as happy if I totally ceaced to exist at death.........why would it bother me ? - I wouldn't be there to have any disappointment ?- it can be a lot of effort later on in life to come to terms with the idea of no life after death
Alot of converted atheists have a hard time with ceasing to exist thing.I would be just as happy if I totally ceaced to exist at death.........why would it bother me ? - I wouldn't be there to have any disappointment ?
It's probably a silly problem. I can't actually proove that it wouldn't have bothered me if I'd never been exposed to religion but I'm fairly convinced it wouldn't have as much.michel said:Maybe it's me being silly, but I don't understand the problem with that though; in many ways, I would be just as happy if I totally ceaced to exist at death.........why would it bother me ? - I wouldn't be there to have any disappointment ?
I think that the point is that you don't have to experience disappointment after the fact, you can experience it beforehand as well. I agree that a believer would either end up satisfied in heaven or not being able to care in non-existance but beforehand he would still be pretty hopeful despite the possibility his beliefs might turn out to be incorrect. The same goes for an atheist I suppose but vice versa.Maybe it's me being silly, but I don't understand the problem with that though; in many ways, I would be just as happy if I totally ceaced to exist at death.........why would it bother me ? - I wouldn't be there to have any disappointment ?
You can do that without teaching them religion.ChrisP said:I think it's important to make children spiritually aware.
I don't believe all non-believers will go to hell. But I still see it important to raise a moral child (whether I was theist or not). Being a theist adds something to the equation that is not submitted to by non-theist. And yes I think this is important.Fluffy said:If you believe that a non-believer will go to hell then raising a child as a believer takes on a certain importance, yes.
Is it possible to be a non-Catholic and be a completely moral person in your view? Many Christians I have met view a good action or restraint from a bad action as hollow unless done in the name of God and therefore making it impossible for a non-believer to be a moral person. Therefore, meaning that the phrase "raising a moral child" is synonymous with "raising a child in my own faith".I don't believe all non-believers will go to hell. But I still see it important to raise a moral child (whether I was theist or not). Being a theist adds something to the equation that is not submitted to by non-theist. And yes I think this is important.
Yes.Fluffy said:
Is it possible to be a non-Catholic and be a completely moral person in your view?
No offense to anybody but this has it's roots in Protestantism and doctrinal disagreements that was sparked by Martin Luther.Fluffy said:Many Christians I have met view a good action or restraint from a bad action as hollow unless done in the name of God and therefore making it impossible for a non-believer to be a moral person.
You are correct. I see this often as well.Fluffy said:Therefore, meaning that the phrase "raising a moral child" is synonymous with "raising a child in my own faith".
That was my pointErnesto said:You can do that without teaching them religion.
linwood said:Alot of converted atheists have a hard time with ceasing to exist thing.
Lets face it, it`s not the nicest of thoughts.
Strange, because, to me, if we ceased to exist completely (ie there is no soul), you wouldn't even be conscious of being dead........so presumably it is the thought of your life coming to and end that bothers you ?Æsahættr said:It's probably a silly problem. I can't actually prove that it wouldn't have bothered me if I'd never been exposed to religion but I'm fairly convinced it wouldn't have as much.